Ramin Talaie/Getty ImagesMembers of an Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn are pictured in this file photo. An atheist group has posted billboards questioning the existence of God near an Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn and a Paterson mosque.

Devout Muslims heading to a mosque in Paterson may not be able to miss a billboard two blocks away, paid for by an atheist group, which says: "You know it’s a myth … and you have a choice." "Allah," written in Arabic, is included. The atheist group plans to pay for another billboard with a similar message, this time with "God" written in Hebrew, to hover over an Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn.

Americans extol the virtues of free speech, and no one would deny the atheists have a right to broadcast their message, the same as other groups.

But there is something hostile about planting the atheistic message near religious communities that have endured historic oppression. Free speech doesn’t mean abandoning respect and the responsibilities that go along with that constitutional right. The in-your-face billboard seems a strange — and highly ineffective — way to make a point. Atheists esteem the idea of rational man. Using a billboard — like any other huckster selling a product — undermines their core argument.

The atheist group poked a stick in the eye of Christians two years ago during the holidays with a billboard showing a Nativity scene captioned: "You know it’s a myth. This season celebrate reason." A Catholic group responded with its own billboard: "You know it’s real. This season celebrate Jesus." Both were, if you’ll pardon the expression, preaching to the choir.

Perhaps it’s not about winning anyone over, but simply getting attention. Rush Limbaugh perfected that approach, as witnessed by the latest uproar about birth control and his use of the word "slut" to describe a woman who differed with him on health insurance policy and contraceptive coverage.

Does anyone really think Limbaugh changed anyone’s mind on the issue? That’s what a rational person would call a leap of faith.